How to get from Berlin to Hamburg by train

Journey time by train from Berlin to Hamburg takes around two hours depending on which train you take.

As this journey is rather common from Berlin Hbf to Hamburg Hbf (central stations), the trains require no changes and frequently go nonstop every hour.

My one-way ticket from Berlin to Hamburg on the DB ICE train came to a total of €83.00.

I purchased the ticket for this high-speed train right on the spot before my journey.

How to find a better train price in Germany with DB

To be clear, I was in a hurry, I hadn’t done any planning in advance and purchased my ticket an hour before departure from the ticket office at Berlin Hbf station.

In all honesty, I did expect the price to be a bit lower, but I just paid it as I wanted to get to Hamburg ASAP, and this was the most convenient method.

I totally should have taken some time to look into my options in advance.

Little did I know that with a bit of forward planning I could have saved a massive amount on that ticket.

This is one of the main reasons why I wanted to put together this blog post to help those wanting to do the same and, in the process, save on your ticket.

No one likes to get caught short if they can make savings.

Be sure to check out the Omio app for better train prices in Europe

On my return to Berlin from Hamburg, I did take some time to plan ahead and book my train ticket online and see if I could find any deals.

That’s when I remembered that I could use the Omio smartphone app to have a look at train ticket options around Europe, as well as buses, boats and flights.

I have used Omio in the past on a recent day trip from London to Brighton and found the Omio app to offer many great options.

What you have to take into account is that some trains might be already full which makes ticket prices more expensive. Tickets can also be generally expensive during busy peak periods, such as rush hour or popular work commute hours.

There are many reasons why some tickets can be more expensive than others. It’s all about knowing how to find the best options.

With a little bit of forward planning, you can use the Omio app to search your train route before you travel to see which times might be better to book.

If like me you’re travelling for leisure and don’t mind waiting or changing your travel time for a cheaper train, then this can be a great option for you.

Omio uses E-tickets which makes booking your journey a lot easier

Another great feature about Omio is that you don’t need to book your ticket from a ticket office or collect a ticket from a machine as you can book the train you wish to travel on directly with the Omio app.

You can easily get a DB digital ticket that you can keep on your phone, so no need to worry about printing the ticket, you’re good to go.

On my return journey from Hamburg to Berlin, I was able to find a ticket for €33.90. It’s a dramatic saving compared to my first ticket.

You can even find cheaper tickets for as low as €20.00 if you look good enough in advance.

Almost a massive €50.00 difference from my first ticket for the same route and it was still on the DB ICE train.

This was all thanks to booking with Omio directly and picking a better time that offered a cheaper train ticket price as I was more flexible with my time and didn’t mind travelling whenever.

Gutted I didn’t think about this on the first trip but at least my return journey price wasn’t as bad.

Train travel in Europe is awesome, enjoy your trip

This just goes to show that even a travel pro can get caught short from time to time but at least I can share my experience with you directly and hopefully help others when booking train tickets around Germany.

So, remember before you book a train ticket around Europe, be sure to download the Omio app and price match the tickets before you make your booking to see if you can also save on your overall train ticket cost.

With many great train discounts waiting for you on Omio, why not see where your journey might take you on your next adventure? Be sure to enjoy the train journeys in Europe.

I love travelling by train around Europe – it’s truly my favourite method to travel as you can slowly enjoy the country you travel through by the view from your window. With some advance planning with the Omio app, it doesn’t have to break the bank either.

Thank you for reading about my encounter with booking train tickets from Berlin to Hamburg, Germany and if you have any further questions about this route, please feel free to email me and I will be more than happy to help.

Wishing you many happy and affordable rail adventures around Europe.

— Dave Brett

Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow the UK's leading solo adventure travel blogger, Dave Brett on his travels around the world. An Adventure travel blog that features travel tips and advice, inspirational stories, travel videos and travel photography that will help you inspire and plan your next trip abroad.

Welcome to Travel Dave – UK Solo Adventure Blog

Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow the UK's leading solo adventure travel blogger Dave Brett on his travels around the world. A globe-trotting adventure travel blog featuring travel tips and advice, exotic stories, travel videos and travel photography that will inspire your next trip abroad, and help you plan it too. To read more, please visit: About Travel Dave Page.